Deadline for Submission of Applications Requiring Research Ethics Clearance for Second Semester, SY 2025–2026 (UREC Memo)

This is to inform the University community that applications for research ethics clearance that require a decision within the second semester have to be submitted to the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) by Friday, 20 March 2026. Beyond this date, the UREC will continue to accept applications, processed in the order according to the date complete materials are received, but without assurance of a decision within the Second Semester.

The deadline provides the reviewers of the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) the time to review priority applications while meeting their teaching commitments during the period of the Final exams and submission of grades.

We request faculty members, especially thesis and dissertation advisers, to guide their students accordingly regarding the research ethics review process. Students who are on a graduation timeline and require research ethics clearance are advised to allot sufficient time for this process, as data collection may only begin after obtaining ethics clearance.

Please note that the timeline for review varies depending on the category of the submitted application:

• Exempted Review: 2 weeks
• Expedited Review: 4–6 weeks
• Full Review: 8–12 weeks

Thank you for your cooperation.